Melbourne, Jan 22 (.) Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz progressed to the third round of the Australian Open 2026 on Thursday with commanding straight-sets victories, keeping their hopes alive in a tournament that has already delivered thrilling action on Day 5.
Norway’s Ruud, world No.13, overcame a determined Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 at a chilly Margaret Court Arena.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist recorded 35 winners in nearly two-and-a-half hours, maintaining his unbeaten record against Munar, who is also a regular training partner and friend.
An early break in the fourth game of the first set gave Ruud the upper hand, and he sealed the opening set on his sixth set point after stiff resistance from world No.39 Munar.
The Spaniard, who had 22 hard-court wins in 2025 following a mental and technical overhaul of his game, pushed Ruud in the second set but could not capitalize on break points, allowing the Norwegian to take a two-set lead. Ruud broke Munar again in the third set to close out the match.
Off the court, Ruud has been awaiting news from his wife Maria, who is expecting their first child any day. The Norwegian revealed he will leave Australia immediately when she goes into labour.
Meanwhile, American Taylor Fritz, world No.9, overcame Czech Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) at John Cain Arena in a 1 hour 58 minute match. The Californian, who has struggled with knee pain and other injuries this season, displayed controlled baseline play and powerful serving to secure the win.
Fritz dominated early, winning the first nine points, but Kopriva, who reached the top 100 in 2025 and recorded his first Australian Open match win in the first round, fought back in the final set, taking it to a tiebreak.
Fritz seized the crucial mini-break and finished the match with an acrobatic forehand slice down the line that drew cheers from the crowd.
Fritz now faces Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, 40, in the third round. Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former AO titleholder, battled for four-and-a-half hours in his previous match.
The victories of Ruud and Fritz underline the importance of focus and fitness in the early rounds, as both players managed to preserve energy while navigating challenging opponents, setting the stage for an exciting weekend in Melbourne.
. . .